Polycarbonate Dome Buying Guide
-
Sterlingbuild
- Buying Guides
- 17 Oct 2018
- 44views
- Reading time: 3 minutes
Polycarbonate Domes
Polycarbonate roof domes are a fantastic way of introducing natural light through flat roof commercial and domestic buildings.
Roof domes are renowned for their durability. As a material, polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable with an impact strength up to 250 times greater than glass.
With a huge selection of standard shapes and sizes available, along with
a bespoke service for full customisation, there is a roof dome for every application.
Our thermoformed domes range from low cost units for uninhabited spaces to thermally efficient rooflights for even the most energy conscious homeowners, specifiers and architects.
Available in a fixed or opening style, either with an external kerb for new projects or dome only for refurbs, polycarbonate domes are a versatile solution for all daylighting requirements.
Replacement Dome or New?
If you require polycarbonate domes
for
a new roof or a retrofit, all domes
come supplied with an external kerb, either standard sized
or
built from your own dimensions.
Providing upstands
with our
rooflights helps users save money on sourcing and building their own. The only additional purchase required is the flashing, usually made from the existing
roof material.
If you already have an existing kerb and do not require an upstand,
or you simply require a replacement dome, our polycarbonate dome offering also includes the
dome only.
Shop Dome Only
Thicker Skin
= Greater Energy Efficiency
Polycarbonate roof domes come in four skin thicknesses. The thicker the polycarbonate glazing, the more thermally efficient the dome.
For uninhabited spaces, such as a shed, single skin domes will suffice, providing plenty of light
but little insulation.
Double skin domes offer superior thermal performance with a U-value half that of single skin. Double skin polycarbonate domes are recommended for
dome replacements.
For new builds, triple skin domes are needed
to comply with current Building Regulations Part L Thermal Performance. These have a U-value of 1.78.
Offering the best energy efficiency is the quadruple skin dome. These domes will keep the area below them both bright and warm, ideal if that area is regularly occupied.
Domes By Skin Thickness

Trio Of Ventilation & Access Options
Should you want your polycarbonate dome to provide more than just daylight and insulation, our domes open either partially (400mm) or fully
for complete ventilation.
Fully openable polycarbonate domes pass
as
means of escape windows, while also providing easier access
to the roof.
Electric domes offer complete convenience as you can open and close them at the
click of a remote control. The built-in rain sensor can pick up on the first sign of rain and close the window before water gets into the building.
For manual domes installed out of reach, a purpose-built operating rod should be purchased for easier opening
Should you not want your polycarbonate dome to open, fixed domes are available at a cheaper price and can be made with a controllable trickle vent in the upstand to provide 8000mm2 of ventilation.
Shop Fixed Domes
Security In All Shapes And Sizes
Polycarbonate domes offer more design choice than
any other rooflight with five different shaped exteriors available.
All
shapes come in single to triple glazing, with the quadruple skin dome available on
square and rectangular domes only.
In addition to square and rectangular, polycarbonate domes also come in a circular, trapezoid and pyramid design.
All shapes offer identical protection, coming with high security, factory-fitted screwbolts that provide high level resistance to break-ins and tampering.